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Increased funding to address mental health

$75 million boost for community mental health services in Northern Queensland

JANUARY 16, 2019: The Liberal National Government will provide a record $1.45 billion for community mental health services and change the funding model to ensure security for both jobs and services.

This means that in excess of $75 million will flow to the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (PHN) which provides services for Mackay through to Townsville and Cairns.

The need to strengthen and improve our services for mental health facilities, programs and workers sadly never goes away, and I am very happy to see this increase in funding.

It will go towards boosting such valuable services as Headspace which focuses on youth mental health, increasing the number of mental health nurses and responding to mental health issues in indigenous groups and those in aged care.

The other things I am focused on, often linked to mental health issues, is continuing the war on drugs through the establishment of Local Drug Action Teams as well as pushing for more drug rehab beds.

PHNs were set up as an independent regional health organisation to commission health services including mental health, in response to the needs of local communities throughout Australia, including that of the Mackay through to Townsville region.

The Northern Queensland PHN is expected to receive $75,359,691 over a three period to help tailor services to meet the specific needs in our region and help deliver a stronger, more integrated mental health system.

It is estimated that one in five people in
Australia experience a common mental disorder each year. Nearly half of the
Australian population will experience mental illness at some point in their
lives, but less than half will access treatment.

“In 2017–18, about 200,000 Australians
accessed over 900,000 mental health services through local providers
commissioned by PHNs,” said Minister Hunt.

“The record three year $1.45 billion funding
commitment will commence from July this year until 2021-22 and is $170 million
more than what was provided for the previous three years.”

“It will continue to support important
services such as headspace centres, psychological services for hard to reach
groups, suicide prevention activities, mental health nurses and mental health
support for older Australians.”

It is estimated that the $1.45 billion
funding includes:

$177 million
for mental health nurses

$77 million
for suicide prevention including Indigenous suicide

$74 million
for the mental health of those in residential aged care

$89 million
for Indigenous mental health

$617 million
for youth mental health including headspace

$399 million
for psychological therapies for hard to reach populations

Minster Hunt said the Government will also
change the way that PHNs are funded to ensure that the staff and mental health
professionals who deliver these critical services will no longer face uncertainty
on short term contracts.

“This will allow longer term planning,
provide job certainty for thousands of people employed in the sector, and
deliver a stronger mental health system,” said Minister Hunt.

“The new funding process will dramatically improve
their ability to ensure that services can be commissioned well in advance at
any point in time, and provide greater funding certainty for the
community-based mental health sector.”

“This will particularly benefit those living
in rural and remote areas, where staffing shortages due to employment
uncertainty have historically reduced access to mental health services.”

“Our Government has an ongoing commitment to
supporting the mental health of Australians,” said Minister Hunt.

The Liberal National Government has
prioritised better mental health for all Australians with $4.7 billion expected
to be spent on mental health this financial year.

The Government’s strong economic management
ensures continued investment of record funding into vital health initiatives
including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.